Ferrari America

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Ferrari America
340, 375, 410, 400, 500, 365
Manufacturer Ferrari
Production 1951-1967
Class Grand tourer
Layout FR layout
340 America
Production 1951—1952
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door roadster
Engine(s) 4.1 L V12
375 America
375 America
Production 1952-1955
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door roadster
Engine(s) 4.5 L V12
410 Superamerica
410 Superamerica
Production 1955-1959
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door roadster
Engine(s) 5.0 L V12
400 Superamerica
Production 1959—1964
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door roadster
Engine(s) 4.0 L V12
500 Superfast
1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupe.
Production 1964—1966
37 produced
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door roadster
Engine(s) 5.0 L V12
365 California
Production 1966—1967
14 produced
Body style(s) 2-door roadster
Engine(s) 4.4 L V12
See also the 340 F1 and 375 F1 Formula 1 racers

A Ferrari America is one of a series of top-end Ferrari models built in the 1950s and 1960s. They were large touring cars with the largest V12 engines and often had custom bodywork. All America models used a live axle in the rear, were front-engined, and had worm and sector steering.

The America series was based on a series of concept cars which bore the Superfast name. Therefore, the final true member of the America production family finally bore that name instead: The 500 Superfast.


Contents

[edit] 375 America

Another Pinin Farina and Vignale car, the 375 used the new 4.5 L Lampredi engine with up to 300 hp (224 kW). The 340 and 375 were expensive and exclusive - only about 40 were built from late 1951 through 1955.

[edit] 375 MM "Ingrid Bergman"

Sergio Scaglietti and his Carrozzeria Scaglietti were commissioned by director Roberto Rossellini to custom build a one-off version of the 375 MM with custom bodywork for his wife, actress Ingrid Bergman. This design later became the inspiration for the car which would be named after Scaglietti himself, the Ferrari 612.

Ms. Bergman wasn't too fond of the car, or of Rossellini's love for Ferraris in general.

As a curiosity, the colour that was chosen for this amazing masterpiece was unique and not available for the other Ferrari models. It was the intention of Roberto Rossellini to utilize a colour that could be compared to that of Ingrid Bergman's eyes. This colour is now available for all production Ferraris under the name "Grigio Ingrid."

[edit] 410 Superamerica

As if the custom, low-volume America was not fast enough, Ferrari produced another line of America cars, beginning with the 1955 410 Superamerica. The engine was now up to 5.0 L with 340 hp (254 kW) available. A 1957 Superamerica III had triple Weber carburetors for even more power.

Each 410 Superamerica had custom bodywork, with a few by Boano and Ghia but most by Ferrari stalwart, Pinin Farina. The price was extremely high — at US$16,800, the 410 Superamerica offered at the New York Auto Show by importer Luigi Chinetti was more than twice as expensive as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing" exhibited by Max Hoffman. Just a few (14 to 35) were built when the series ended in 1959.

[edit] 400 Superamerica

The 400 Superamerica had a smaller 4.0 L Colombo engine, but produced as much power as its predecessor. It debuted in 1959 as 410 production ended, and was available as a coupe, spider, or cabriolet with custom Pinin Farina bodywork. Four-wheel disc brakes were a new addition. 50 400s had been built when the 400 stepped aside in 1964.

[edit] 500 Superfast

The end of the top-line America series was the 1964 500 Superfast. Early in development, and even into production, these cars were to be called "Superamericas", but the decision was made at the last moment to use "Superfast" instead. The engine was again a 5.0 L Lampredi, but 400 hp (298 kW) was available now, pushing the car to 170 mph (274 km/h). The chassis was based on the contemporary 330 GT 2+2, and bodywork was again done by Pininfarina. 37 cars were made to 1966, including 12 "series II" models with an updated 5-speed transmission.

[edit] 365 California

The 1966 365 California was a stepchild model. It used the America's chassis, with its 2650 mm wheelbase and live axle rear suspension, but had the 4.4 L Colombo V12 from the other 365 cars. Just 14 of the open roadsters were built (including 2 in right hand drive), production ended in 1967.

[edit] References

  • Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7. 
Preceded by
Mercedes-Benz 300SL		 Fastest street-legal production car
261 km/h		 Succeeded by
Mercedes-Benz 300SLR
v • d • e
Ferrari road car timeline, 1947–1968 — next »
Type 1940s 1950s 1960s
7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sports 125 S 166 S 195 S 212 Exp 225 S 250 MM 250 Monza 250 GT Tour de France 250 GT SWB 250 GTO 250 LM
159 S 250 S 250 Export
GT 166 Inter 195 Inter 212 Inter 250 Europa 250 GT Europa 250 GT Boano 250 GT Ellena 250 GT Coupe PF 250 GT Lusso 330 GTC 365 GTC
275 GTB 275 GTB/4
Spyder/Cabriolet 250 GT 275 GTS 330 GTS 365 GTS
2+2 250 GT/E 330 GT 365 GT
America 340 America 375 America/MM 410 Superamerica 400 Superamerica 500 Superfast 365 California